For the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki will look to build on their past success while striving for excellence in the majors. Meanwhile, the Cubs feature two standout Japanese players in Opening Day starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and right fielder Seiya Suzuki.

If MLB can get Japan to follow all its teams, “We do believe there are payoffs in the B’s: billions,” commissioner Rob Manfred said.

But the Japanese players who were playing in front of their home country at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday handled any jitters they had quite well, delivering in clutch moments as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in Major League Baseball’s season opener.